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“A parent whocares,” he says. “Someone who makes you dinner at night. Who knows if you didn’t come home.”
My eyes burn, and his words flow through me like a visceral truth I never saw. One that might’ve always existed. I intake a sharp breath.
“And man, you need someone looking out for you if you’re getting swept into this mess,” he says. “I know you wanted it to just be one or two people, but with the restraining orders against your two cousins—”
“Ryan and Patrick.” I name them.
He nods. “Both security firms know your family was behind the attack against Beckett now. They want to take down those fuckers as much as the parents do, and it’s personal for Triple Shield.”
Because O’Malley, an Epsilon bodyguard, was beat to shit and landed in the hospital on Halloween. It was barely a week ago.
I begin nodding, accepting this, finally, but I ask in a short breath, “Do they know anything about Luna? About me asking Lo to date her?”
“No. I don’t think Lo wants that getting out, not even within security.”
“That’s good.” Less people who know, the better.
Even trying to be with Luna has a lot of complications, but actually being with her could cause waves too, I know that. It’d mean that over 50% of Kitsuwon Securities 24/7 bodyguards are romantically involved with clients. A number that won’t be favorable to any of us, most especially Akara.
I don’t know the kind of impact it’d have, so telling him I’m even in love with Luna isn’t high on my to-do list. He’s already done too much for me.
“You ready?” Farrow asks.
“Yeah.” I straighten off the cupboards. “There’s only now.”
6
PAUL DONNELLY
“You were right,”Lo tells me at the Cobalt Estate. “The best shot we have at taking down the Donnellys is through you.”
Feels like all of Alpha and Epsilon have swarmed Papa Cobalt’s office, plus some faces I’ve never seen. Must be lawyers or private investigators. They cram around me like I’m a lightweight fighter in this afternoon’s pay-per-view match.
Donnelly vs. Donnelly.
Akara, Thatcher, and Farrow are the only ones that I know aretrulyhoping I end up on two feet. This would’ve been so much worse if they didn’t push to be here. Thank God my friends have brains and that shiny five-star perseverance.
Price and Akara are talking quietly while an Alpha bodyguard pops open a black hard-shell case, but my head swings back to Papa Cobalt as he speaks.
“In order to present a strong case against your family for the assault or other crimes they might’ve committed, we need them to incriminate themselves.” Connor pauses in front of me, his perfectly fitted navy-blue suit making him look like the billions he’s worth. “That’s where you come in.”
I see the fancy mic and electronic gadgets in the black case.
Shit.“I can’t wear a wire.”
“Why not?” Price, the owner of Triple Shield, asks first.
Eyes drill into me from every direction. “They’ll check,” I say. “I’m not someone they trust.”
“Will they check today?” Connor questions. “You’ll be in public.”
“Maybe not,” I mutter, avoiding Epsilon. SFE looks at me like I’m the scum of the earth, and I hate feeling like a worm.
Akara asks, “You could use today as a stepping-stone to gaining your dad’s trust?” He poses it to me like a question. “Maybe later, once he trusts you, no one will check for a wire.”
“Yeah. Might work,” I tell him.
He nods to me with a friendly half-smile. His eyes dart to Epsilon. Their snide glances are apparent from the corner, and I watch my boss go to Price. Few seconds later, Price is ordering his men tostop.
